Biography for Kate Upton

Mini Biography

Born in Michigan and raised in Melbourne, Florida, Kate Upton grew up around horses. She was attending a horse show--not as a participant, but because the event piqued her interest--at age 12 when she was Spotted by Trump Model Management. Three years later she went to Miami to become a model. She quickly gained popularity after her first appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and also for utilizing social media which got her signed by Ivan Bart of IMG Models. For this skillful use of the internet she was profiled on 13 February 2012 by the NY Times the same day as her second issue of Sports Illustrated, featuring her on the cover, hit newsstands.

Early Career

Born on June 10, 1992, Kate Upton grew up in Melbourne, Florida with her parents and three siblings. In 2008, she attended a casting call for Elite Model Management in Miami, Florida, and was signed to the company that same day.

Not long after, Upton moved to New York City to further pursue a modeling career, as well as acting, and eventually signed with the company IMG Models. From that point on, Upton's career soared. She has since modeled for such fashion-forward companies as Dooney & Bourke, Guess and Victoria's Secret, as well as various magazines.

Media Attention

Upton appeared in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue in 2011—for which she was named "Rookie of the Year"—and on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue the following year. Additionally, in July 2012, she posed for the cover of GQ magazine. In the GQ photo, Upton is sporting a skimpy, red, white and blue swimsuit, and seductively eating a popsicle.

Upton also made headlines in 2012, when a video surfaced of her provocatively dancing to the Rej3ctz's song, "Cat Daddy." Following the video's internet explosion, it was removed from YouTube—it was deemed too s**ual by regulators of the site—but was replaced on the site soon after. Days later, Upton appeared as a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, where she showed guests some of her dance moves from the popular video.

Personal Life

A longtime horseback rider, Upton showed horses for the American Paint Horse Association and competed nationally at a young age with her horse, "Roanie Pony." With Roanie Pony, Upton won five national championships, and went on to achieve additional horse-showing honors with another horse, Zipped.